Executive Summary

From 2010 to 2024, Nebraska has made measurable progress in building and strengthening its behavioral health workforce. During this period, the number of licensed behavioral health providers grew by 49%, expanding access to care across the state and improving coverage in 40 rural counties. This growth reflects Nebraska’s sustained commitment to strategic workforce development and the success of initiatives guided by the Nebraska Model for Behavioral Health Workforce Development.

Key Workforce Trends and Progress

• Steady Workforce Expansion: Nebraska’s total behavioral health workforce increased from 2,279 to 3,397 providers. The most significant growth occurred among Psychiatric Physician Assistants (+267%), Licensed Independent Mental Health Practitioners (+225%), and Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners (+168%).
• Rural Workforce Growth: The number of behavioral health providers practicing in rural Nebraska increased by 24%, demonstrating meaningful progress in expanding care beyond urban centers. While access gaps remain, more Nebraskans than ever before can now find behavioral health support closer to home.
• Shifts in Professional Composition: Many LMHPs have advanced to independent licensure as LIMHPs, expanding the system’s clinical capacity and insurance coverage options while LMHPs continue to play a critical role in sustaining access—especially in rural communities.

Challenges and Ongoing Needs

• Access Gaps: About one in four Nebraskans experiences a behavioral health issue each year, yet many still struggle to receive needed care due to provider shortages, and long wait times..
• Training and Supervision Pipeline: The extensive training requirements for behavioral health professions—along with limited supervision and post-graduate training opportunities—slow the entry of new clinicians and contribute to slower workforce growth. In addition, the uneven distribution of training programs across the state limits local opportunities for hands-on learning and licensure supervision, particularly outside major population centers.
• Geographic and Structural Barriers: Several regions still require residents to drive more than an hour to reach in-person behavioral health services, underscoring the persistent imbalance between where providers are located and where care is needed. While tele-behavioral health has improved reach, it cannot fully replace the availability of local, in-person services or the full range of care required to address the spectrum of behavioral health needs.

Sustaining Nebraska’s Leadership

Nebraska stands out as the only state in the nation that longitudinally tracks its behavioral health workforce. Through this commitment, the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska (BHECN) provides the data needed for evidence-based planning, policy development, and targeted solutions. This long-term monitoring allows state and local leaders to better understand emerging trends and guide strategic efforts to strengthen the workforce over time.

Future efforts should focus on:

1. Expanding behavioral health training capacity across all regions, with a focus on rural accessibility.
2. Enhancing pathways to licensure through increased support for graduate-level and post-graduate supervision.
3. Encouraging coordinated statewide partnerships that align education, policy, and service delivery.

Conclusion

Nebraska’s behavioral health workforce has grown stronger since 2010, demonstrating the value of long-term, data-informed strategies. Continued attention to workforce development, training pathways, and regional collaboration will help ensure that all Nebraskans—no matter where they live—can access timely, high-quality behavioral health care.